among their peaceful neighbors. Thus she had a snug and cosy dwelling
finished before the others even suspected what she was doing. She popped
into her new house and sat there comfortably, peering out through the
window-slits with her sharp little eyes. And she saw the other birds
hopping about and twittering helplessly.

"What silly birds they are!" she croaked. "Ha, ha! What would they not
give for a nest like mine!"

But presently a sharp-eyed Sparrow spied Mother Magpie sitting in her
nest.

"Oho! Look there!" he cried. "Mother Magpie has found a way. Let us ask
her to teach us."

Then all the other birds chirped eagerly, "Yes, yes! Let us ask her to
teach us!"

So, in a great company, they came fluttering, hopping, twittering up to
the elm tree where Mother Magpie nestled comfortably in her new house.

"O wise Mother Magpie, dear Mother Magpie," they cried, "teach us how to
build our nests like yours, for it is growing night, and we are tired
and sleepy."

The Magpie said she would teach them if they would be a patient,
diligent, obedient class of little birds. And they all promised that
they would.

She made them perch about her in a great circle, some on the lower